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February 10, 2022
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Hometown Heroes Yearbook Inside
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Vol. 29 No. 7
Talk of bullying after teen’s death
Dr. King’s legacy alive in Baldwin
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Page 4
FEBRUARY 10 - 16, 2022
Schools, library focus on Black History Month By CRisTiNA ARRoYo RoDRigUEz carroyo@liherald.com
Courtesy Baldwin School District
sECoND-gRADERs, liKE TolANi Uwemedimo, in Nancy Aquino’s class at Steele Elementary School recently presented on African-American leaders who inspire people, such as gymnast Simone Biles.
Baldwin educational institutions, including the school district and the public library, are putting Black history and culture front and center this month. The Baldwin School District is celebrating Black History Month across various schools. At Brookside Elementary School, the student council will host a Black History Month virtual assembly, and students will conduct research projects in their classes.
Second-graders in Nancy Aquino’s class at Steele Elementary School already presented on African-American leaders or heroes who continue to inspire people today. And at Baldwin High School, students in Al Nardone’s English class will read and analyze several speeches and memoirs about famous African-Americans and also give speeches about their African-American role models. 3D’s Aftercare, a private after-school and summer program that has Harriet Tubman quoted on its website, “Every Continued on page 4
Downtown Revitalization Initiative builds momentum By CRisTiNA ARRoYo RoDRigUEz carroyo@liherald.com
On Jan. 11, the Town of Hempstead Board unanimously voted to approve a grant application, grant agreement and procurement plans for Baldwin’s grant-funded Downtown Revitalization Initiative. “The Town Board hereby finds that the pursuit of the Baldwin Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant funding is a worthwhile endeavor that is in the best interest of the town and its residents,” the board stated in its resolution. The board authorized Town Chief of Staff Jack Libert, Com-
missioner of Planning and Economic Development John Rottkamp, Town Attorney Joseph Nocella and Comptroller John Mastromarino to submit the documents to the Housing Trust Fund Corporation, the state agency through which the DRI funding is granted. The HTF’s mission is to “further community development through the construction, development, revitalization and preservation of low-income housing, the development and preservation of businesses, the creation of job opportunities, and the development of public infrastructures and facilities.” The board vote came just
under a year after then Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, alongside New York state and Town of Hempstead officials in the lobby of the Baldwin Long Island Rail Road station, announced the approval of seven of 12 DRI projects, totaling $10 million. The approved projects include $2 million for mixed-used development at Milburn Plaza, $1 million for mixed-used developments on Grand Avenue, $1.5 million for Merrick Road traffic and pedestrian safety, $850,000 for affordable workforce housing in Baldwin Commons, $600,000 for a Downtown Improvement Grant Program, $250,000 for a Baldwin Downtown branding
and marketing effort, and $3.5 million for a Baldwin Business Center. Since the announcement last year, several developers have applied for the grant monies, submitting plans to the Hempstead Town Building Department. Last Oct. 21, the Town of Hempstead Industrial Develop-
ment Agency unanimously approved a preliminary resolution to consider providing tax breaks to developer Park Grove Realty for the $16 million PGD Baldwin Commons workforce housing project at 785 Merrick Road, a proposed four-story, 33-bedroom unit building for seniors and households earning Continued on page 13